(57) A playing surface with selected bounce characteristics is constructed by confining particulate material preferably sand or fine soil in a shallow trench. For indoor use a flexible sheet is rested on the top layer of the particulate material thereby spreading the load produced by the ball during bouncing and the feet of the players thereby preventing excessive bumps being formed in the surface. The particulate material must be kept dry to achieve the constant characteristic and thereby for outdoor use the flexible sheet and shallow trench must be waterproof.